Questions our GC Councillors must ask ASF

Mar 24, 2014

Given the significant and numerous technical, financial, engineering, environmental and social obstacles and problems outlined in Deputy Premier Seeney's letter to Mayor Tate (13-02-2014), how can ASF China Property Co guarantee the successful construction and operation of a cruise ship terminal on the Gold Coast which is a prerequisite for any associated development on the Spit, Wavebreak Island or Broadwater?

Has the Mayor honestly and transparently informed ASF of the significant and likely majority percentage of the community that are strongly opposed to the project in any way, shape or form? If not, what have they been told by Mayor Tate regarding community sentiment?

How could ASF report and issue a press release directly to the Australian Stock Exchange boasting that they are the 'preferred' proponent for the project when clearly and without any ambiguity they are not? Who, if anyone, at the Gold Coast City Council, the Major Projects Directorate or Office of the Mayor gave them this impression and are ASF willing to issue a retraction statement to the stock exchange, correcting it to report that they are actually a 'possible' or 'potential' proponent only, as was clearly outlined by Deputy Premier Seeney several times. (Hansard 13-02-2014)

Are you aware that Tom Tate campaigned and was elected on his stance to 'keep the Spit for surfers, families and fisherman' and for no 'fifty storey towers' for Wavebreak island? Are you aware that as such, the people voted on the basis of those remarks and not on a "mandate" for any of the proposed developments and PPP that are currently being discussed?

Given the scale and scope of the BMP proposal, are ASF China Property Co willing to support the city by funding all of the necessary upgrades to roads, sewage, water, power and more in the surrounding areas of Main Beach, Labrador, Southport and beyond which would most likely be required for a project of this size?

The community has raised serious concerns about the history of ASF, in particular the debarment from many banks worldwide, including the World Bank after an investigation by the bank determined that China Communications Construction Company (ASF consortium's major partner in the BMP) and their affiliates had been investigated and found to manipulate the tender process for a national roads project in the Philippines. Given this overwhelming incident and supporting evidence, how does ASF respond to this and what assurances can they offer to the people of the Gold Coast that their dealings, this process and their interactions and relationship to publicly elected figures and their business associates have been wholly honest, transparent, ethical and legal throughout?

Will the residential components of the project be available for sale to Australian vendors and the Australian public in a fair and transparent manner, or will they be available only to the Chinese market?

It was reported by Shannon Willoughby in the Gold Coast Bulletin that Tom Tate was accompanied by 'migration lawyers' when he met with ASF representatives in China at the beginning of this process. Given the high incidence of cheap foreign workers with 457 visas taking jobs on similar worksites in Queensland in recent times, what guarantees can ASF give that any jobs created here will go to local workers first and foremost, and not be outsourced to cheaper work gangs from out of town or overseas? Are there any plans to bring foreign workers in for some or all of the project and to use cheaper labour to do the project rather than investing in local workers?

What are ASF's terms of reference for community consultations? When can the Gold Coast community view these to scrutinise the transparency and appropriateness of proposed community consultations? Will ASF respect the interests of the community and honour their democratic wishes? At what point in the process will ASF abandon their proposal?

What are the Australian Defence and Foreign Affairs implications of allowing a foreign sovereign entity - The Peoples Republic of China - to construct and operate a port on Australian sovereign soil and waters?